The figures come courtesy of National Research Group (NRG), the division of Nielsen Media Research used by studios to track audience interest in upcoming releases. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Regal Entertainment Group CEO Amy Miles was quick to downplay the findings, telling Wall Street analysts on Thursday that, “I think it’s a little premature for us to comment with respect to what impact we’re seeing in the theaters.”

But the trade paper notes audience hesitancy could pose a problem for Fox’s R-rated comedy The Watch — it’s expected to open soft, in the $13 million to $15 million range — and Summit Entertainment’s 3D dance movie Step Up: Revolution, both of which premiere today.

Earlier this week, Summit removed TV promo spots that briefly showed dancers wearing gas masks and carrying canisters, but didn’t remove the scene from the film. “Having taken these steps, Summit will open this inspirational, nonviolent film in theatres nationwide this weekend as originally edited,” the studio said in a statement.

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Comments

If they aren’t going to the movies, then they aren’t moviegoers, so therefore, it’s impossible to have 20-25% of moviegoers not going to the movies.

Rollo Tomassi

There’s a difference between the words ‘leery’ and ‘hesitancy’ in the actual article, and the alarmist use of the word ‘afraid’ in the title. You Stay Classy, Spinoff!

Mississippi Gary

A friend of the family found out I was going to see The Dark Knight Rises last Friday after the shootings in Aurora, CO. She asked me if I was scared to go. Told her not in the least, given that was an isolated incident far from where I am. She then suggested it could happen here too, to which my reply was, “It could happen ANYWHERE at ANYTIME. But I won’t live my life in fear and let that fear dictate what I want to do in MY LIFE. I’m all for CAUTION, but NOT at all for PARANOIA.”

Awful thing is, when events like the Aurora movie theater shootings occur, people lose themselves in that paranoia and fear. Understandable, given the sheer horrific circumstances of what went down. Thing is, giving into that fear and paranoia lets the shooter and those of his ilk win. It’d be like giving he and others like him what they want, the knowledge he’s terrified us.
So he has. But in that respect, I won’t let it paralyze me into utter apathy and paranoia.
As I said up top of this posting, it could happen ANYWHERE at ANYTIME.
Doesn’t have to be a movie theater or a Columbine High School.
We could be sitting at the mall, a nice restaurant, a ball game, a school program, the park, you name it.

Basically what I’m saying is, yes, be cautious, but NEVER GIVE INTO FEAR AND PARANOIA.
If we do THAT, we may as well just curl up and die away of our own volition.
As for me? I’m thinking I may go take in my second screening of The Dark Knight Rises again.
And I’ll do as I did last week, watch it thinking of those in that theater in Colorado who didn’t get to see it as they initially had planned to. I’ll go see it for them, with them in mind, and to hell with the perpetrator and his infectious fear and paranoia.
He hasn’t ruined moviegoing for me, and I implore other moviegoers that they NOT let people like James Holmes keep them from living their lives.

http://twitter.com/hysanadu hysanadu

Really, Spinoff?

Joe Lee

Way before any of this had happened, I was already pissed about being asked if I had any outside food or beverages, when there had already been incidents of people getting mugged at my local theater. Nice priorities. Plus, charging $5.00 for a bottle of water that is going for $1 at a vending
machine twenty feet away in the mall is just asking for people to lie to
the idiot in the vest, tearing tickets.

I can stay home watch my big screen and drink free water, and not worry about getting mugged let alone about some moron sneaking by the moronic ticket taker with weapons.

Fart

20-25% of america has holes between their legs.

Shawn

Come watch the movie in Canada. Gun laws up make it safer than the U.S..

Shawn

Up here I meant. And no disrespect to average American citizens intended, but the lack of firearm restrictions in America only aid in these horrific crimes.

JohnB10

That 20-25% are people who probably don’t go out in public much anyway.

http://profile.yahoo.com/3NHALE4MMAIPZRWVMMNW2HLCNM Keith

I won’t delve into the heavy stuff here, but I’m curious about a more specific example of moviegoers in which states and where in the country. I’m quite certain it will be different everywhere. I’m in Upstate New York, and the day after when I actually saw the film, it was a packed house. Everyone I know has gone to see TDKR in the last week with literally zero concern about anything bad happening, and yesterday, when there was some weird cellphone hijacking that indicated that a local mall would be targeted akin to the Aurora movie theater (seriously, who has the capability to hack hundreds or thousands of cellphones and uses it to prank people rather than to say, steal money?) everybody still went … to both the movies and the mall.

Savonti

None taken, but I have to disagree. It’s easy and perhaps even understandable to want to increase gun laws or things of the sort, but the thing about criminals is they break the law. Stricter restrictions won’t stop crazy people from being crazy.

Jim Deal

Wow, you’re ridiculous. Read the article on both sites and afraid is the appropriate word. Whether you agree or not doesn’t make the rest of the nation that is afraid to go to the theaters any less real.

Myself, I’m not afraid at all of going to the theater and no one else should be either, IMO, but that doesn’t mean people have real fears out there.

DKR stunk

I knew full well about the shooting that morning– yet nothing was going to stop me from seeing the dark knight rises on day 1.

IF a movie is good I will go see it.

If it doenst look that great— then screw it.

Dswynne1

“Who wants to live forever?” is my motto. Otherwise, how can there be risk? Therefore, I say go for it.

http://twitter.com/Arthurknight Michael J

I went to the theater and it was dead.I tell you there had to be ten people in the Dark Knight Rises movie.

jrau18

What time did you go? I went at 11am and it was packed.

jrau18

Define “moviegoers”. That’s such a vague term.

JP

this is just a made up poll to capitalize on the incident

Jurassic_Max

20%-25% of moviegoers are stupid

Greg

Well said, sir. Well said.

Blackphoenix

I’m not scared to go see a movie, there’s just not anything I want to go see aside from an arthouse film.

Slam183

This fear of going to the movies due to the shooting is silly. You could be shot, stabbed, or beaten anywhere at anytime for any reason. These poor people in Aurora just happened to be in a movie theater, and James Holmes just happened to pick it to be the spot of his crime. It is tragic indeed, don’t get me wrong, but it really is circumstantial.